My son, Fusu, please abdicate the first emperor!

Chapter 735 Military Service vs. Recruitment

"I dare not imagine what kind of world I will create by following Your Majesty. As Your Majesty said, perhaps my wisdom has not yet reached that level, and I cannot understand what the world Your Majesty is talking about is like."

Fusu: "The more you work, the more you get, the less you work, the less you get. Whoever works gets the reward. This is the world we want. This is the fair world that everyone wants, but in the past, the wrong methods were chosen to pursue such a world."

"It is people who create unfairness. If we don't solve people's problems, why do we have to create systems? Systems are created, broken, and fixed. Systems are always good systems. But people's problems are never solved."

The confusion in Chen Ping's eyes gradually disappeared, and gradually a light flashed in his eyes again.

"Although I don't know what kind of truth your majesty wants to convey to the world, since your majesty and I have the same goal, I, Chen Ping, am willing to serve your majesty until we create a world that both your majesty and I want."

After this long talk at night, Chen Ping was now completely and firmly tied to Fusu's boat.

He would never let his imagination run wild again. Although now was not a good opportunity for him to show his talents, Fusu could prove to Chen Ping that Qin II would be the most worthy person to follow in the world.

After solving the problem of people's opposition, the next natural step is to do big things.

Spring is the season for sowing.

A year's harvest depends entirely on whether you work hard in the spring.

To create an ideal world, we must have the right direction, a reasonable action plan, a united and efficient team, effective measures, and practical actions.

Two problems have now been solved. The first is the direction, and the second is the reorganization of the action team.

Next comes the action plan and detailed implementation measures.

The people had been looking forward to Fusu's great governance. After waiting for so long, Fusu only announced a ceasefire and reduced taxes by 30% across the country.

Everyone believes that better days are yet to come.

But as long as there is a king like Qin Ershi, can people in the world really live a good life? Will Qin Ershi really just simply satisfy the wishes of the lower-class people - just enjoy the kind of life that only requires good food and drink, and does not need to work all day?

Don't forget that it is human nature to love leisure and hate work.

Is the ideal society and ideal state that people pursue really what everyone fantasizes about, a life with a high salary, good looks, a partner who never betrays them, and a life where they can just lie on their laurels every day without having to work and do nothing?

Is there a possibility that this is a lie woven by others to create pain, just to make you feel uncomfortable, to make you feel psychologically unbalanced, and to make you feel ashamed in comparison?

Or, to put it more harshly, the purpose of creating this kind of value is to make you feel inferior! ——
During the glorious years of the Qin Empire, an unprecedented storm of change was quietly brewing.

In the past, the Qin State had created many proud glories. Next, if Fusu could successfully create a prosperous era.

Even if Fusu did not have the obsession to build a Qin Dynasty that would last forever, relying on the strength laid by Qin Shihuang and Qin Ershi, the Qin Dynasty could have at least ten more monarchs.

If Fusu's policy of popularizing culture and education and enlightening the people is successful, then at that point it will no longer matter who sits on the throne of the emperor or which family holds the highest power in the world.

Wei Liao no longer observes the celestial phenomena or the stars, everyone just follows Fusu.

Heaven has its will, the earth has its destiny, and people have their harmony.

People cannot control the right time and place, but if they can do what they are supposed to do well, they can create great miracles.

The top leaders of the Qin Dynasty held meetings frequently, mainly to discuss the abolition of the military merit system and the replacement of a completely new military system.

This meeting was of vital importance, and almost all of the Qin's powerful leaders and top advisers were present.

There were eight people in total: Wang Wan, Feng Quji, Wei Liao, Zhang Han, Feng Jie, Meng Tian, ​​Li Xin, and Zhao Tuo.

The smaller the group, the more important the issues being discussed.

For such a big thing, it was basically the Emperor Fusu and eight other powerful imperial high-ranking officials who privately decided on the general framework, and the rest was left to the ministers to discuss in a formality.

If one had a little insight, one would have noticed that in an occasion like today, only Chen Ping from the common intellectual class showed up to record the meeting, and no one from the Pei County Group was qualified to attend.

The so-called nominal glory is ultimately not equal to power.

The Peixian group and the commoner class intellectuals, including the Jizhong literati group, still have a long way to go on the road to gaining power.

The national commander Liao said at the beginning, "War is a major matter for a country. It is a matter of life and death, a road to survival and destruction. We must pay close attention to it."

"Everyone has agreed that the military merit system should be abolished. Now that we have to build a completely new military system, the first thing to consider is stability."

"I think this new military system should be able to be used by the Qin State for at least fifty years."

All the generals nodded. Feng Quji said, "Warfare is a means for a country to govern its people. Since we don't want to use war to feed the population, we must change our approach and naturally focus on stability."

"Ultimately, we still need to find a more secure job for the people, so that men can support their families and women can stay at home and raise children and reproduce."

"I saw that the national commander said that it should last at least fifty years, which is still a bit short. In my opinion, we should design a military system that can last for a thousand years."

In a sense, Feng Quji learned many leadership traits from Qin Shihuang, such as long-term vision and lofty ambitions.

While learning good aspects, I also learned some bad aspects, such as greed and impracticality.

When Wei Liao heard Feng Quji say that it would last for a thousand years, his face drooped immediately.

Meng Tian, ​​as a rising star, had the Meng family behind him, which had a total of 200,000 elite soldiers. He was almost on par with Zhao Tuo, who led more than 100,000 elite soldiers to attack Nanyue.

In this meeting, Meng Tian saw that the political atmosphere created by the emperor in the Qin Empire still had some remnants. And Liao was always pragmatic.

What he hates most is those empty words. No matter how well they are said, in the end, they can be summed up in three words - empty and pretentious.

"In this world, even if there is a national system that has lasted for a thousand years, there will never be a military system that has lasted for a thousand years." Liao suddenly exclaimed.

Everyone was a little surprised, because Liao never argued with anyone before. When he saw everyone was discussing something in a certain direction, he would choose to doze off and ignore them.

Therefore, Qin Shi Huang always wanted to crush him to death. Because he was too abominable, eating salary but just standing by and watching. And judging from his expression, he disdained the advice of his ministers and questioned the king's decision. Judging from his ability, since it was something he was not satisfied with, the result in the future would probably be bad.

Over time, the ministers got used to it, as if it didn't matter whether Qin had this lieutenant or not.

He is like a staff officer, responsible only for providing the best decisions.

Normally, people of lower status give him face, but in their hearts they still look down on him.

As for those of the same level as him, they were openly dissatisfied with him, such as Feng Quji.

Li Si knew Wei Liao's abilities. He had traveled around the countries and admired Liao very much. However, Liao did not interact with him much, and there was no chance for him to exchange academic knowledge with him.

Only Wang Wan and Wei Zhuang thought Liao was an interesting person.

Feng Quji didn't expect that Liao would get so angry that he would openly confront him in front of so many people.

"It's OK to have an imperial system that lasts for a thousand years, but why can't we have a military system that lasts for a thousand years?"

Liao became resolute. "I am the national commander. I am best at military affairs. I can make the final decision on this matter. A thousand-year imperial system is fine, but a military system is absolutely not allowed."

Feng Quji was the prime minister after all, and it was not appropriate for him to behave ungracefully in front of so many people.

The two of them exchanged lightning speed, and Feng Jie, who was watching from behind, felt anxious.

But Li Xin held his head high. To be honest, although he didn't know why, he really liked watching this kind of scene.

Wang Wan sat between the two of them and pulled their sleeves together.

"The national commander has been in the government for more than ten years, and now he finally speaks up and expresses his position openly and firmly, which is also rare."

"Prime Minister Feng is old and virtuous, and he wants to formulate a thousand-year strategy for the long-term benefit of the empire."

Liao stopped talking. He was too lazy to waste his breath on those who pretended to know everything.

The young Second Emperor sat there looking at the three men who held supreme power in the Qin Empire, three old men who were dignified and serious in front of outsiders, but at the beginning of such a meeting they were as noisy as his little sons.

To be honest, Fusu himself found it quite interesting to watch the ministers quarrel. The huge contrast between the prime minister and the lieutenant of a country could be so funny. Sima Wuyi carefully observed Fusu's expression. Yes, it was the same expression again, as if he regarded the old minister in the audience as his own son.

Liao pursed his lips and let out a long breath.

"Let's discuss the matter. But I don't believe in a thousand-year military system. Fifty years at most."

When Feng Quji heard this, his blood rose to his chest and was about to soar.

"Yes, absolutely."

Several lines suddenly appeared on Wang Wan's forehead.

Meng Tian pulled Liao aside and said, "Master, don't mention it. Don't mention this topic anymore."

Feng Jie was also persuading Feng Quji from behind, "Father, forget it, let's talk about the serious stuff first."

Only then did the two of them stop.

Liao looked at Fusu, "If we count from the Xia Dynasty, the military system has evolved at least thirty times in the past two thousand years."

“Although the changes in military systems are numerous and dazzling, there are only three types.”

"One is the conscription system. The so-called conscription system is characterized by the fact that local soldiers are forcibly recruited from top to bottom, with no fixed number or time limit. They are recruited when there is something to do and dispersed when there is nothing to do."

"So soldiers and farmers are one. Being a soldier is just a temporary expedition, while farming is permanent. In the end, people still have to rely on farming for a living."

"The second is conscription."

"The law has fixed the service of the people as soldiers as labor. The people serve in the army according to their age, and the number of soldiers and the length of service are relatively fixed."

"Right now, our Great Qin is implementing this system. All men in the country must perform labor service. Once the time comes, they will be dragged to the distant mountain pass to perform military service. Not only is the population transfer frequent, but the key is that the distance is too far and the journey is long."

"Abolishing the military merit system is one thing, but the other priority right now is to abolish the military service system as soon as possible."

"Grassroots officials are already understaffed, and grassroots governance is even more complicated and chaotic."

"The world is already stable and there are no wars. Frequently asking people to travel long distances and spend months on the journey to serve in distant places will not only fail to achieve the desired governance effect, but will create greater difficulties for grassroots governance."

"Why are there more and more thieves in the world? Most of them are on their way to serve in the army."

Wei Liao's words again aroused Feng Quji's opposition.

"How can this be possible? Military service is to improve the combat effectiveness of all people. If we don't serve, who will repair the city walls, who will complete the military fortifications, who will repair the Lingqu Canal, and who will build the Chidao?"

After all, as the empire's top executive, Feng Quji had to consider far more issues than Fusu and Wei Liao.

"After all, the national commander is only good at military affairs. He only needs to consider how to formulate a new military system. As the prime minister, I am in a difficult position. I have to consider how the soldiers will eat after returning home. I have to consider who will be responsible for the production and construction of the empire if the soldiers do not work and stay at home idle or violate the law."

It's not just Liao who has been tolerating Feng Quji, Feng Quji has also been tolerating Liao.

The others were all terrified. They wanted to speak, but couldn't get a word in.

"Alright, both of you." Fusu couldn't bear to watch any longer. "You two are both doing this for the good of the empire. It's a good thing to speak the truth openly. Let's continue the meeting."

Liao's sleeves trembled slightly. He was talking about military system, and Feng Quji was talking to him about people's livelihood and labor issues. They should be treated separately.

Meng Tian saw Liao lifting his sleeves and whispered from behind, "Captain Guo, His Majesty and many ministers are here."

Liao looked at the emperor and then gave up.

"The two types mentioned above are both military systems that have been used in the past."

"The third is the conscription system. Everyone knows this."

"Local soldiers are recruited by the government with money and materials. Such soldiers are not easily found in the countryside. On the contrary, because of their scarcity and the need for professional training and cultivation, soldiers have become a special profession under this system."

"In order to maintain the stability of the army, the government often naturalized the soldiers who were recruited with money, and did not allow them to escape. They even stipulated that their sons should inherit the family line after their fathers died, and their younger brothers should inherit the family line after their elder brothers died."

After listening to Liao's introduction, Feng Quji opposed the military service system, and the conscription system was outdated, so the only option was the volunteer system.

"Could it be that the national commander wants to use the recruitment system and abolish the conscription system? Wei Wuzu did just that, but in the end, they were defeated by my Great Qin elite soldiers."

In response, Wei Liao pointed out that "the decline of Wei Wuzu was due to the weakening of Wei's power. Now that Qin is about to undergo a transition, the empire needs to recuperate and the people should no longer be forcibly conscripted as laborers."

"And the reason why the Wei Wuzu became weak in the later period is that the cost of building the Wei Wuzu was very high."

"The Wei Wuzu was a heavily armored unit, and the cost requirements for equipment purchase and maintenance were very high and the expenses were huge."

"Due to the strategic mistakes of the Wei State at that time, the country suffered huge losses in financial and material resources, and the Wei State gradually began to be unable to meet the huge expenses of the Wei Wuzu."

"In addition, the selection requirements for Wei Wuzu soldiers are very high, and the backbone of Wei Wuzu are all veterans with rich combat effectiveness."

"After repeated defeats in wars, these core forces suffered heavy losses. To train Wei Wuzu as strong as before would not only require a long period of time, but the declining national strength of Wei at the time would also not allow it."

"Besides, the military system only lasts for fifty years. Times change, and things must change too. We just need to do what we should do today. As for what happens later, don't be too greedy or you'll end up losing everything."

Liao has always been disgusted with Qin Shihuang's grand and lofty dreams. His dreams are so lofty that they will last for eternity. His desires are expanding, but what good results can he reap?

It is better to follow Fusu, at least Fusu does not pursue eternity.

Feng Quji objected again, "Why should we work harder today? It is so that those who come after us will have to work less hard."

"That's just the prime minister's wishful thinking. Has the prime minister ever asked the people whether they are willing to bear the burden for their next generation? Has the prime minister ever asked the next generation whether they want to rely on our achievements?"

Feng Quji said sternly, "It's ridiculous. Since ancient times, the elders planted trees so that the next generation can enjoy the shade. Standing in our position, we are supposed to plan for the country's century-long events. As for those small matters at the grassroots level, they are all the responsibility of the county governors and Qin officials."

"According to the Prime Minister, we should only care about today's affairs. That means we should only care about today's life and wine, and not care about the lives of future generations. We must leave some good things for future generations."

"Don't think how hard our generation works today. When future generations enjoy peace and convenience, they will be grateful to us, their ancestors."

Feng Quji was too obedient and listened too much to Qin Shi Huang.

As they listened, they felt as if the emperor was sitting with them, and they all felt uncomfortable.

Li Xin also felt something was wrong, 'Why does the left prime minister seem so arrogant? The more confident he is, the less reliable he seems.'

At this time, Fusu's voice came faintly from above.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, is fulfilling your duty by thinking about future generations. However, what we are discussing today are only the policies during my reign."

"Because I don't believe that after I'm gone, my policies will be implemented by others. So those longer-term plans should be put on hold for now."

Fusu really hated people who always made big promises but in fact could not promise to deliver on their promises to do anything tangible.

Ying Zheng was like that, and so was Feng Quji.

"We can't even solve the problem of the growing gap between the rich and the poor today, so why should we consider what kind of system the next generation of people will live under?"

"I think the fifty-year military system listed by the national commander is more suitable for the current era."

Feng Quji was surrounded by people, but no one stood up to speak for him. On Wei Liao's side, the emperor and Prime Minister Wang Wan stood up for him.

The left prime minister couldn't help feeling unhappy.

Feng Jie saw his father's difficulties and understood him. However, the first thing the new emperor did when he ascended the throne was to oppose Qin Shihuang's extravagant and wasteful practices and restore the posthumous name system.

My father was always immersed in the political atmosphere of following Qin Shi Huang for decades. Every time he opened his mouth, he would plan things that would take hundreds or thousands of years. He wished that their generation would complete the work of the next few generations.

Just now Liao asked Feng Quji whether he had ever asked future generations what they thought. What surprised the son was that his father ignored the facts but firmly believed that future generations would definitely be grateful to their ancestors.

(End of this chapter)